Current Affairs - March 11, 2018 Current Affairs

"I-METROS", an association of all Indian Metro Rail companies was launched by Cabinet Secretary. The platform will be a forum for exchange of ideas, pooling of knowledge and sharing of experience, best practices, innovations etc. among the Indian Metro Rail companies to nurture excellence in performance. This association will also undertake and promote techno-economic studies and research.

India seals agreement with UN to build homes for Nepal quake victims. The massive earthquake in Nepal in April, 2015 created destruction in the Himalayan nation, killing over 10,000 people and injuring nearly 22,000 people. Gorkha and Nuwakot were the worst-hit districts. In a reconstruction bid for earthquake-ravaged Nepal, India signed an agreement with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to build 50, 000 homes for earthquake victims. Under the project, 26,912 home owners will be benefited in Gorkha and 23,088 homeowners in Nuwakot, according to Indian Embassy sources. India will give USD 8.41 million to the UNOPS and USD 7.41 Million to the UNDP to build 50, 000 homes by this agreement.

India ranks 52 on the Mastercard Index for Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) , a list of 57 nations released by Mastercard. The report focuses on female entrepreneurs' ability to "capitalize the opportunities granted through various supporting conditions within their local environment". New Zealand is at the top of the list, with Sweden, Canada, US, Singapore, making the top five in the index. The index was based on 12 indicators and 25 sub-indicators representing 78.6.

According to an assessment done by leading brand valuation firm, Brand Finance, Tata Consultancy Services was named as the fastest growing IT services brand in the world. As per the Brand Finance IT Services 15 annual report for 2018, TCS now has a total brand value of USD 10.391 billion; a growth of 14.4 percent from last year's total of USD 9.081 billion, with an increase of USD 1.309 billion. The new value is the fastest incremental growth of all companies in the industry, and places TCS in the top three most valuable brands in the global IT services sector along with IBM and Accenture.

As part of the 10th edition of MILAN 2018, the first-ever multi-nation naval exercise at sea called MILES-18 has started on March 11, 2018. The exercise will be conducted for three days in the Andaman Sea. Those participating in the event include 11 foreign naval ships and six Indian ships. Apart from enhancing inter-operability, the exercise will enable honing of search and rescue operations procedures, maritime interdiction operations, core operational skills and exercise a variety of maritime security scenarios. The Andaman Nicobar naval command is organizing multi-national mega event "Milan 2018" with theme 'Friendship Across the Seas' at Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar islands from March 6 to March 13, 2018. The purpose of Milan 2018 is to enhance regional cooperation for combating Unlawful Activities at sea will be organised.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired the first Founding Conference of International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Center in New Delhi on March 11, 2018. The purpose of the summit is to focus on various aspects of promoting solar energy in 121 countries that are part of the International Solar Alliance. The summit was attended by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid among other dignitaries from over 50 countries. The ISA is the first treaty-based intergovernmental organisation to be based in India that aims to help sunshine-rich developing countries to tap solar energy at more affordable prices.

Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance has partnered with Can Fin Homes for a 3 year corporate agency tie up to sell its policies to home buyers. Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Insurance said that, all of its life insurance products will be made available to customers of Can Fin Homes. Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance and Can Fin Homes aim to offer long term value creation for its customers. Can Fin Homes is the housing finance subsidiary of Canara Bank. It has more than 1.2 lakh customers.

World champions Australia have lifted the coveted 27th edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah cup 2018 in Ipoh, Malaysia on March 10, 2018. In the final, they beat defending champions England by a narrow 2-1 margin. With this, Australia has now won the prestigious tournament for the 10th time. Earlier, in the classification match for the 3rd place, Argentina finished third after beating Malaysia 3-2. The hosts ended at the 4th spot.

The Telangana government has launched India's first state-led incubator for women entrepreneurs, called as Women Entrepreneurship Hub (WE-Hub), in Hyderabad on the occasion of International Women's Day (IWD-2018). Unlike T-Hub, which is meant for technology startups, WE Hub will be open for all kinds of startups led by women. We-Hub will promote women-led, women-owned enterprises in Telangana. It is a platform which is open to all kinds of innovations including a tech start-up, a start-up in social innovation or an idea which is completely radically different. Deepthi Ravula is heading the WE-Hub incubator as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Sitanshu Kar, an officer of 1983 batch of Indian Information Service (IIS), will be the new head of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) after superannuation of Frank Noronha on April 30. He will take charge as PIB head on 1st May 2018. Presently, he is the director general of All India Radio (AIR)'s News Services Division (NSD).

The Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Laboratory (IBSD), Imphal, has established a floating laboratory in Loktak Lake, Manipur, to continuously monitor its water quality and improve it. Manipur's Forest and Environment Minister, Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh inaugurated the floating laboratory on 24th February 2018 in Imphal. Bhagaton Singh, Project Director of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) said that, the floating laboratory was launched as a joint venture between LDA and IBSD. IBSD Director Professor Dinabandhu Sahu said that, a study will be undertaken to convert the water plants into organic fertilizer. He said that, the boat features an equipment that will collect data to study the ecosystem of the lake.

Karnataka government unveiled the State flag (nada dhwaja) for Karnataka. If Karnataka receives Central government approval, it will be the second state after Jammu and Kashmir to have a flag. The flag is tricolor comprising yellow, white and red with State emblem at the centre. Now the proposal will be forwarded to the Union Home Ministry for approval, as a State is not empowered to declare its own flag. The state emblem is blue in colour named Gandaberunda. Gandaberunda is a mythical two-headed bird.

Israeli and American troops train together through "Juniper Cobra" exercise in Israel. Over 5,000 Israeli and American troops are undergoing training together in Israel. Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, chief of Israel's air defence command, said that, Juniper Cobra is not focused on any particular adversary. It is aimed to train for very complex scenarios like simultaneous attacks from enemy countries and militant groups. Israel faces potential threat from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Iranian forces. Juniper Cobra comprises field training, computer simulations and live-fire drills of sophisticated missile-defence systems.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Nari Shakti Puraskars to 30 eminent women and 9 distinguished Institutions in recognition of their service towards society and women's empowerment. Women and Organisations from fields of science, sport, art, etc have been awarded. The awardees were finalised by the Ministry of Woman and Child Development.